Vibrating mechanism



March 1965 F. F. HUMPHREYS ETAL 3,233,525

VIBRATING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 19, 1962 FERDINAND F.HUMPHREYS -JOHN J.V|TOLA M%,L 3

ATTORNEYS March 1966 F. F. HUMPHREYS ETAL 3,238,525

VIBRATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.8

INVENTORS FERDINAND F. HUMPHREYS JOHN J. VITOLA ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,238,525 VIBRATIN G MECHANISM Ferdinand F. Humphreys, Caldwell, and John J. Vltola,

West Long Branch, N.J., assignors to Wheelock Signals, Inc., Long Branch, N..l., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Jan. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 167,366 3 Claims. (Cl. 340-396) This invention relates to a novel and eificient vibrating mechanism that is particularly suited for use in a bell.

The vibration mechanism of the present invention embodies a solenoid-actuated reciprocating striker which operates at a frequency independent of the source of power and a magnetically controlled switch operated in synchronism with the reciprocation of the striker by a moving magnetic field to make and break the circuit which energizes the solenoid.

A bell embodying the vibrating mechanism of the present invention is preferably characterized by a gong or other sound-producing means actuated by a striker moving at a relatively low frequency in order to provide a more pleasant sound than the conventional fast-ringing bell. Such bells are usually associated with premium prices. The bell of the present invention, however, is of simplified design, and its cost is competitive with the cheaper fast-ringing bells.

An ancillary feature of the vibrating mechanism of the present invention is that it embodies hermetically sealed contacts which are controlled magnetically from outside a sealed capsule. The hermetically sealed contacts assure the vibrating mechanism of the present invention of reliability over a longer life and qualify it for use in an alarm or signal which operates sporadically, perhaps after years of idleness. Furthermore, the hermetically sealed contacts make it possible for the vibrating mechanism of the present invention to be used in various hazardous locations where the sparking of ordinary contacts could cause explosion. More over, since the sealed capsule is readily plugged in or detached, it is a simple matter to replace the contacts should it be necessary to do so.

Another feature of the vibrating device of the present invention is that it can be operated with either alternating or direct current.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference can be made to the detailed description which follows, and to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section of a bell embodying the vibrating mechanism of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a section taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section of the hermetically sealed contacts used in the bell shown in FIGURE 1, with the contacts shown in closed condition;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the contacts in open condition;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic drawing of the circuit diagram for the bell shown in FIGURE 1 through 4; and

FIGURES 6 to 8 are schematic views similar to FIG- URE 5, but each illustrating different types of hermetically sealed contacts.

In the bell shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, a gong 1 is mounted to a housing 2 by a mounting nut 3. The gong is adapted to be struck by a non-magnetic striker tip 4 carried at the upper end of a vertically movable iron core or plunger 5. The plunger 5 is guided for vertical movement within a sleeve 6 of a non magnetic material having a low coefficient of friction. A tubular sleeve support 7, preferably fabricated from iron or steel to increase the flux to the plunger 5, surrounds the lower end of the tube 6. A bobbin 8 which carries an electrical winding 9 surrounds the upper end of the tube 6. The bobbin is made of insulating material, and the winding is covered with suitable insulation or may be of the paper-section type. A dish-shaped resilient disk 10 is interposed between the top of the tubular sleeve support 7 and the bottom of the bobbin 8.

The solenoid assembly consisting of the winding 9, the plunger 5, the sleeve support 7 and the resilient disk 10 is supported by a yoke 11 which provides a return flux path for the solenoid. The yoke 11 has slotted ears 12 by means of which it is adjustably mounted to the housing 2 by means of screws 13.

When the plunger 5 is at rest the lower end engages a pad 14 which serves as a resilient cushion for the plunger. The pad is secured to a pad support 15 which, in turn, is secured by a rivet 16 to an extension 17 of the yoke. Both the pad and pad support are of non-magnetic material.

The plunger 5 carries a laterally extending arm 18 which travels in a vertical slot 20 formed in the sleeve 6 and the sleeve support 7. The slot 20 permits the arm to be carried by the plunger in its vertical reciprocation. The outer end of the arm 18 is channel-shaped and partially encompasses a hermetically sealed glass tube 22 containing a magnetically controlled switch 23 (see FIG- URE 5) through which power is supplied to the winding 9. The sealed chamber of the tube 22 is either evacuated or filled with an inert gas so that there is no spark hazard or atmospheric contamination of the contacts.

The magnetically controlled switch 23 comprises a pair of contacts 24 and 25 which terminate in contact leads 26 and 27, respectively, extending beyond the ends of the glass tube 22. A bracket 29 secured to the housing 2 by screws 30 supports the glass tube 22 through insulated elements 31 and 32 which effectively insulate the switch and support it with a minimum of stress on the glass envelope. The insulated element 31 is a stepped tubular piece which fits onto the lead 27 projecting from the botom of the glass tube. The lower portion of the stepped piece is inserted into a hole in the bracket, and the enlarged upper portion thereof is interposed between the bracket and the lower end of the glass tube. The element 32 is a rubber grommet which is interposed between the bracket and the upper end of the glass tube.

The arm 18 carries a permanent magnet 34 which controls the operation of the switch 23. The relatively flexible upper contact 24 is normally out of contact with the lower, more rigid and stationary contact 25. The movable contact can be made of magnetic material and partially coated with silver or it can carry an iron piece 24a; in either case, the movable contact is attracted to the permanent magnet when the permanent magnet is in the position shown in FIGURE 3, so that the magnet holds the movable contact closed. When the plunger 5 travels upwardly within the guide sleeve 6, the magnet also travels upwardly to a position shown in FIGURE 4 at which the magnetic field is no longer able to hold the movable contact 24 closed, and the inherent resiliency of the contact moves it to open position.

The operation of the bell can be explained with reference to the circuit diagram of FIGURE 5 showing the switch 23 connected in series wit-h the winding 9. Either AC. or DC. power can be applied to the input terminals 35. Since the magnet 34 maintains the switch 23 closed when the plunger 5 is at rest, the series circuit is completed through the closed switch to energize the winding. The magnetic field of the winding causes the plunger 5 to travel upwardly within the tubular sleeve 6. While the plunger is moving upwardly toward the gong 1 the flux field of the permanent magnet 34 is carried beyond the point at which it holds the switch 23 closed, breaking the circuit which energizes the winding 9 before the 3 striker tip 4 of the plunger strikes the gong. However, the inertia of the plunger mass causes it to continue its travel until it strikes the gong.

After the gong is sounded, gravity and the force of impact of the plunger against the gong drives the plunger downwardly within the tubular sleeve 6 toward the resilient cushion or pad 14. During this downward travel of the plunger, the permanent magnet 34 again acts to close the contacts of the switch 23 again completing the circuit to energize the winding 9, and the cycle of operation is repeated.

It is apparent that the magnetically controlled switch can take various forms. For example, FIGURE 6 shows a variation in which the contacts 40, 41 are normally closed. In this embodiment, when the permanent magnet 34 moves upwardly with the plunger 5, it attracts the movable contact 41 away from the contact 40 and holds it open against the rigid stop 42 until the magnet again moves downwardly and permits the inherent resiliency of the contact to restore it to closed position.

FIGURE 7 shows a variation in which the sealed capsule 22 is connected by the arm 18 to the reciprocating plunger and moved relative to a stationary permanent magnet 43. The coils 44 in the lead wires afford the necessary freedom of movement to the capsule.

FIGURE v8 illustrates a switch which is generally the same as the one shown and described in connection with FIGURE 5 of the drawings, but in which an electromagnet including a coil 48 and a core 48a is carried by the plunger instead of a permanent magnet. The electromagnet is energized by the same power source that energizes the winding 9. The coils 49 in the leads which energize the electromagnet afford the necessary freedom of movement to the electromagnet to permit it to be carried by the plunger 5.

The plunger operating frequency of the vibrating mechanism described herein is determined by the combined mass of the plunger and its attached moving parts and the length of the plunger stroke. Therefore, the frequency of striking can be varied by altering either or both the mass of the plunger and the length of the stroke. It is apparent that the operating frequency of the plunger is independent of the input power source or whether it is DC. or A-C. of any frequency. It is also apparent that the plunger does not operates against or under the influence of a spring force so that it is a highly efficient mechanism.

The invention has been shown in preferred form and by way of example only and obviously many modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. The invention, therefore, is not limited to any specified form or embodiment except insofar as such limitations are expressly set forth in the claims.

We claim:

1. A bell comprising a gong, a vertically movable striker, guide means for directing the striker toward and away from the gong, an electrical winding surrounding the guide means, a core armature for displacing the striker toward the gong when said winding is energized, means for limiting the displacement of the striker away from the gong, a hermetically sealed capsule containing a pair of contacts, at least one of which is movable into engagement with the other, an additional magnetic force producing means, said contacts controlling the energization of said electrical winding, said additional magnetic force producing means controlling the opening and clos- 4 ing of said contacts, and mean-s controlled by the reciprocating motion of the striker for imparting relative movement between the sealed capsule containing the contacts and the said additional magnetic force producing means, whereby the contacts energize the winding "when the striker is located further from the gong and deenergize the winding when the striker is located closer to the gong.

2. A bell comprising a gong, a vertically disposed nonmagnetic, low friction tube having one end in communication with the gong, a reciprocating core armature disposed within said tube and having a striker at one end thereof, a winding surrounding the upper end of said tube, the energization of the winding displacing the striker upwardly against the gong, means surrounding the non-rnagnetic tube beneath the winding to concentrate the magnetic flux produced by the winding around the lower end of the tube, a resilient cushion within the non-magnetic tube remote from said gong for determining the position of rest of the striker, an arm laterally extending from said core armature, a vertical slot in said non-magnetic tube through which said arm extends, magnetic force producing means carried by said arm, a her metically sealed capsule switch including therein a pair of contacts in series with said winding, said contacts being normally biased closed and positioned outside the influence of said magnetic force producing means when said core armature is in a retracted position, said magnetic force producing means being movable into proximity of said contacts upon energization of said winding, whereby at least one of said contacts is magnetically effected to open the winding circuit and produce cyclic movement of said striker.

3. A sound-producing device comprising a soundproducing element, a vertically movable striker, guide means for directing the striker toward and away from the sound-producing element, an electrical winding surrounding the guide means, a core for displacing the striker toward the sound-producing element when said winding is energized, means for limiting the displacement of the striker away from the sound-producing element, a magnetically operated switch including a pair of contacts, at least one of which contacts is movable into engagement with the other, an additional magnetic forceproducing means, said contacts controlling the energization of said electrical winding, said additional magnetic force-producing means controlling the opening and closing of said contacts, and means controlled by the reciprocating motion of the striker for imparting relative movement between the magnetically operated switch and the said additional magnetic force-producing means, whereby the contacts of the magnetically operated switch energize the winding when the striker is located further from the sound-producing element and deenergize the winding when the striker is located closer to the sound- V producing element.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,769,312 7/1930 Rollinson 317-191 2,109,953 3/1938 Bates 200-90.3 X 2,445,406 7/1948 Pollard 200112 X 2,491,986 12/1949 Larson 200112 X 2,602,844 7/ 1952 Schilling.

NEIL C. READ, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BELL COMPRISING A GONG, A VERTICALLY MOVABLE STRIKER, GUIDE MEANS FOR DIRECTING THE STRIKER TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE GONG, AN ELECTRICAL WINDING SURROUNDING THE GUIDE MEANS, A CORE ARMATURE FOR DISPLACING THE STRIKER TOWARD THE GONG WHEN SAID WINDING IS ENERGIZED, MEANS FOR LIMITING THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE STRIKER AWAY FROM THE GONG, A HERMETICALLY SEALED CAPSULE CONTAINING A PAIR OF CONTACTS, AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH IS MOVABLE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OTHER, AN ADDITIONAL MAGNETIC FORCE PRODUCING MEANS, SAID CONTACTS CONTROLLING THE ENERGIZATION OF SAID ELECTRICAL WINDING, SAID ADDITIONAL MAGNETIC FORCE PRODUCING MEANS CONTROLLING THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF SAID CONTACTS, AND MEANS CONTROLLED BY THE RECIPROCATING MOTION OF THE STRIKER FOR IMPARTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE SEALED CAPSULE CONTAINING THE CONTACTS AND THE SAID ADDITIONAL MAGNETIC FORCE PRODUCING MEANS, WHEREBY THE CONTACTS ENERGIZE THE WINDING WHEN THE STRIKER IS LOCATED FURTHER FROM THE GONG AND DEENERGIZE THE WINDING WHEN THE STRIKER IS LOCATED CLOSER TO THE GONG. 